Pipistrel’s Panthera and Mogas

The news posted last week by Flying came as a shock — Pipistrel announced delays in the production of its sleek new Panthera four-seater due to Lycoming’s decision not to certify its IO-390 for mogas as originally planned.

Already known for its award-winning, mogas-burning Sinus and Virus motor-gliders and LSA aircraft, the Solvenian-based Pipistrel, like its rival, Italy’s Tecnam, has long pursued a multi-fuel strategy, including mogas, due to the high cost of avgas and its disappearance in many parts of the world.

Fortunately for Pipistrel, there exist a number of alternatives to the IO-390 that will give them the power they need while benefiting from the lower cost and widespread availability of mogas, especially at airports in Europe.

Petersen Aviation, the experts in certifying engines and aircraft for mogas, support STCs for three alternatives to the IO-390. Here is a comparison:

* The Continental I0-470 and I0-520 engines require the INPULSE water/methanol anti-detonation injection system, certified and in use on a number of aircraft types.

It should also be possible to have Petersen Aviation test the Lycoming IO-390 on the Panthera for its ability to operate on mogas, and apply for an STC as the company has for hundreds of other engine/airframe combinations.

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Comments

I hope Ivo Boscarol start to producing his panthera asap. There are many prepaid already waiting for deliveries. 6 cylinder lycoming Unleaded 95octanes fuel seems to be best option and not much more expencive, but safer run and same consumprtion at same speed. So saving fuel on safer angine and longer lasting engine

The news came as a shock for me too. After seeing no updates of Panthera website for more than half a year I assumed that Pipistrel quietly shelved the project. Glad to see them going forward. Although I am not too optimistic. Different engine weight means different WB which may require wing and tail redesign. BTW I never believed their numbers. They are just too optimistic. 200 kt at 10gph? No way. Although anything that is less expensive than Cirrus but faster than DA40 would be great.

It seems like Lycoming should certify their 390 on Mogas since they have been such a strong supporter of it in the past. My guess is the compression ratio for the 390 might be to high for a lower octane?